Joe Girardi: Michael Pineda will be out longer than expected for Yankees

Michael Pineda's first season with the Yankees has been overshadowed by injuries and suspensions. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said pitcher Michael Pineda will be out longer than the three-to-four week timetable initially projected at the end of April after he suffered a Grade 1 strain of the teres major muscle on his right side, according to a tweet Sunday from The Star Ledger reporter Jorge Castillo.

The injury happened during a simulated game at the end of April, and Girardi said on Sunday that the 25-year-old right hander -- an All-Star in 2011 -- is doing well and began playing catch at 60 feet on Saturday but that the initial timetable of one month is no longer accurate. The news effectively puts Pineda's return at the beginning of June -- at the earliest.

In his four starts, he recorded a 1.83 ERA with 15 strikeouts and three walks in 19 2/3 innings, but his performance this season has been marred by findings of pine tar on his body while on the mound. Pineda was subsequently suspended 10 games by MLB.

Girardi said Pineda started playing catch at 60 ft yesterday. Everything went well, but he basically said Pineda will take longer than 4 wks